The name “This Town Needs” is a reference to This Town Needs Guns (TTNG), one of the bands arrested for performing at the venue without a work visa last May. Earlier this month, the band announced on Facebook that the legal charges against them had been dropped and no further action was to be taken.

The venue put on a show called “This Town Needs Live” in July – officially published as a “dress rehearsal,” charging no entrance fee and involving no commercial activity. “This Town Needs Live” also acted as a show organiser and brought American indie rock band DIIV to Hong Kong last September.

“We hope the association with the name can bring reflections upon what the city needs – and we could each do our part to make Hong Kong a better place,” the Facebook post on Monday said.

“Hopefully, the new venue will open up more creative possibilities in terms of space – for example, there could be exhibitions alongside music shows – there will also be room for resting and chatting, or enjoying a beer while looking out to sea.”

Hidden Agenda did not reveal the exact location, but said said that it was “east of Kowloon East” and that it was located in a mall.

Their page will be updated with more information on the venue in the coming days. The soft opening party will be held on February 24.

Land lease violations

Hidden Agenda was subjected to numerous raids at each of its four locations since its establishment in 2009, primarily relating to violations of the terms of its industrial land lease.

Land leases for factory buildings typically specify that units must be used for industrial or storage purposes only, but arts and culture groups have said that high rents prevent them from playing in other spaces.

As a unit in an industrial building, the fourth incarnation of Hidden Agenda officially operated as a food factory, having obtained a license from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. However, the department rejected its applications to register as a place of public entertainment.

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